Olympians (from left) Asafa Powell, Shelly-Ann Fraser, Melaine Walker and Shericka Williams take part in the celebratory motorcade at the University of Technology campus in Kingston yesterday. (Photo: Bryan Cummings)

IF anyone ever doubted the popularity of former 100m world record-holder Asafa Powell, their questions would have been drowned out by the cheers which rang out from the Alfred Sangster Auditorium at the University of Technology (UTech) yesterday.

The shouts and applause resonated loudest and longest for the Olympic 4x100m relay gold medallist as UTech saluted members of Jamaica's successful team to the Beijing Games last August.

UTech is the base for the MVP group of which Powell and several other Olympic medallists are members.

Joining Powell were his fellow sprint relay team gold medallists Michael Frater and Nesta Carter; 400m hurdles champion Melaine Walker; 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser and silver medallist Sherone Simpson - sporting crutches after recent knee surgery - 400m silver medallist Shericka Williams, and Andre Wellington as well as assistant coach Paul Francis; physiotherapist Gavin James; MVP Club president Bruce James, and Andre Edwards.

Missing were head coach Stephen Francis who is off the island; long jumper Herbert McGregor, and 100m hurdler Brigitte Foster-Hylton.

The welcome parade started with a float from the main gates of the institution on Old Hope Road, past several departments to the auditorium where a mass of students, well-wishers and officials were gathered - among them Fraser's mother Maxine Simpson and Walker's parents, Jennifer Wilson and Junior Walker.

The route was lined with a sea of dancing well-wishers who ran to the truck transporting the small group of athletes, greeting them and asking for autographs.

Inside they were serenaded by the UTech Theatre Ensemble which sang of the desire to 'Reach' higher, beating the competition, and holding on to their 'roots'.

Director of Sports, Anthony Davis, who gave MVP a home at UTech, was an integral part of the function, as was Pro-Chancellor and former Prime Minister, Edward Seaga.

"We have come to pay our respects to our heroes who filled not only our hearts, but our minds with nuff respect," Seaga said.

He recalled the day the British Union Jack was lowered and the Jamaican flag hoisted for the first time on Independence Day, August 6, 1962.

"In Beijing you gave us not one flag-raising, but many," he told the athletes.

"When they went to Beijing we knew they were going to win something, we didn't know they were going to wipe out everything," he stated to resounding applause.

He added that sport was more than leisure or entertainment. "Sports is the most powerful force on earth because it knows no boundaries," he said.

Meanwhile, MC Jennifer 'Jenny-Jenny' Small, in her inimitable way, tried to bring Powell out his shell and encouraged him to demonstrate a few dance moves for the audience.

The athletes also received gifts and plaques courtesy of sponsors Lucozade and UTech, before Fraser gave the Vote of Thanks for the warmth and love the team received since winning an historic 11 medals in China.

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